Allah (swt) specifically directs us in the Qur’an to study His signs in nature and in ourselves:

“We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their ownselves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Qur’an) is the truth. Is it not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is a Witness over all things?” (Qur’an 41: 53)

Indeed, Allah’s signs are mentioned throughout the Qur’an. Look at Soorat ar-Room, for example:

“And among His Signs is this, that He created you (Adam) from dust, and then [Hawwa’ (Eve) from Adam’s rib, and then his offspring from the semen, and], – behold you are human beings scattered! And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect. And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colors. Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge. And among His Signs is the sleep that you take by night and by day, and your seeking of His Bounty. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who listen. And among His Signs is that He shows you the lightning, by way of fear and hope, and He sends down water from the sky, and therewith revives the earth after its death. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who understand. And among His Signs is that the heaven and the earth stand by His Command, then afterwards when He will call you by single call, behold, you will come out from the earth.” (Qur’an 30: 20-25)

In these and other verses, Allah (swt) gives us specific signs that we are directed to ponder, and He encourages us to look for meanings in all of creation. Below is another example:

“And it is He who spread the earth and placed therein firmly set mountains and rivers; and from all of the fruits He made therein two mates; He causes the night to cover the day. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.” (Qur’an 13: 3)

To help us understand this verse, we turn elsewhere in the Qur’an. For example, in Soorat an-Naba’ Allah states:

“Have We not made the earth as a bed, And the mountains as pegs?” (Qur’an 78: 6-7)

Here Allah (swt) is teaching us about science: geology in particular. We understand that the mountains serve a purpose: to stabilize the earth. If one learns more about geology, however, he or she might discover that it wasn’t until the 1960’s—fourteen centuries after the advent of Islam—that the theory of plate tectonics was developed. Plate tectonics explains that the earth is made up of different moving plates, and the way mountains are formed, and their purpose. This ‘discovery’ of modern science was revealed to us centuries earlier.

Similarly, the Qur’an mentions the stages of embryonic development in several verses (e.g., Qur’an 23: 14). It wasn’t until much later that technology allowed scientists to ‘catch up.’ Throughout the Qur’an, Allah (swt) teaches us about the universe we live in, and indeed many people have converted to Islam because of this.

Celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, and stars are mentioned frequently in the Qur’an (e.g., Qur’an 16: 12). The moon, for instance, has no light of its own; it glows brilliantly because it reflects the sun’s light—an interesting bit of scientific knowledge that most children learn early on. Our beloved Prophet (sa) was often compared to the moon, lighting up this dark world of ignorance and heedlessness just as the moon lights up the night. He was thus the most perfect manifestation or reflection of Allah’s (swt) attributes. Learning the science behind the moon’s light allows us to understand the moon’s symbolism more fully.

Likewise, some scientific knowledge of the water cycle and weather is useful as rain, wind, storms, and clouds are referred to in the Qur’an (e.g., Qur’an 30: 48), and some knowledge of botany should provide a deeper understanding of the verses in the Qur’an that refer to trees (Qur’an 14: 24-27) and other plant life (e.g., Qur’an 6: 99).

All knowledge is found in the Qur’an. However, if we have ready access to basic scientific information we can, perhaps, gain a deeper understanding of some of the verses. If our intention is to understand the Speech of our Creator, reading scientific materials will become an act of worship, helping us to fulfill our Islamic duty to reflect on the Qur’an, the Last Revelation Allah (swt) chose for humankind.

So, Insha’Allah, the next time you pick up a scientific book you will see more than some complicated, undecipherable equations and long words that you cannot spell or even pronounce! You will see a precious resource that may help bring you closer to your Lord.

J. Samia Mair is the author of five children’s books, and a Staff Writer for SISTERS Magazine and Discover. She is a co-founder of the Al-Ansar Homeschool Co-op and has developed curricula and taught classes in Islamic History, American History, and Science.

International Islamic Publishing House is a small company, but with a well-established reputation in the Muslim world. It was founded in the 1980s by Muhammad ibn Abdul Muhsin Al-Tuwaijri, its CEO and Managing Director.